Trauma & Bereavement

Bereavement:

The term "normal grief" sometimes referred to as "uncomplicated grief" has a broad
range of feelings that are common after loss. Lindemann, (1944) ^ describes patterns
which he suggests as characteristics of normal grief:

Somatic or bodily distress

Preoccupation with the image of the deceased

Guilt relating to the deceased or circumstance of the death

Hostile reactions

The inability to function as one had before the loss

After experiencing a loss many people seek bereavement counseling and often report
finding it helpful in assisting them to adjust to current life demands with their
loved one no longer present. Beverly Raphael (1977)* suggested the following list
of variables that were significant predictors of a person not doing well after a loss:

A high level of perceived non-supportiveness in the bereaved social network during
the crisis

A moderate level of perceived non-supportiveness in social network response to the
bereavement crisis occurring together with particularly “traumatic” circumstance of
the death

A previously highly ambivalent marital relationship with the deceased, traumatic circumstance
of the death, and any unmet needs

The presence of a concurrent life crisis

The office of Student Health Services has mental health professionals who will assist
students who have suffered the loss of a loved one while attending school. Call 801.863.8876
(option 3) Monday-Friday (except holidays) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
to schedule and appointment.

Trauma & Posttraumatic Stress:

"The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress is the development of characteristic
symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal
experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury,
or other treat to one’s physical integrity; or witnessing an event that involves death,
injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of another person; or learning about
unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced
by a family member or other close associate." DSM-TR IV, 2000, pg 463.

The person suffers in that the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced, the
persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, numbing of general responsiveness,
and persistent symptoms of increased arousal; often these features will not go away
on their own and professional help is required. If you find this is a problem for
you please call the office of Student Health Services at 801.863.8876 (option 3) Monday-Friday
(except holidays) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule and appointment
to visit with a mental health professional.